Popcorn-popper.



o. 741,897. PATENTED'O'CT. 20, 1903. H. R. ESTES.

POPCORN POPPER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28, 1903.

H MODEL.

Patented October 20, 1903.

ur c-E.

HUBERT RJESTES, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-TENTH TO AARON EPSTEIN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

POPCORN POPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 741,897, dated October 20, 1903.

Application filed January 28, 190 3. Serial No. 140,856. (No model.)

To all,v whom it may concern.-

Beit known thatI, HUBEBT R. ESTES, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Popcorn-Poppers, of which the following is a full, clear, .and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to an apparatus for popping popcorn operated by mechanical means; and the invention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described, andpointed out in the claims.

Figure I is a perspective view of my popper. Fig. II is a vertical transverse section of the popper. Fig. III is a perspective view of one of the cradle-supports. Fig. IV is a section of the lower. part of the popcorn-bin and valve-controlled eitit therefrom. Fig. V is a perspective view of the agitator located in the cradle of the popper.

1 and 2 designate the side Walls, and 3 and 4 the end walls, of the popper-casing. The casing is divided by a partition 5, atone side of which is located a bin 6, in which the shelled corn is placed. The bin has an inclined bottom'7, which leads to an exit-spout 8, that is controlled by a valve 9, which when opened permits the discharge of the corn through said spout.

is a lid hinged at 11 to the casing end wall 3, which is adapted to close the top of the bin 6. v

Between the partition 5 and the casing end wall 4 is a compartment 12. In the partition 5 and the casing end wall at their upper edges are slots 13, and located against the sides of said partition and end wall are socketblocks 14.

represents socket-brackets secured to the partition 5 and end wall 4 at their sides and adjacent to the slots 13 therein.

16 designates a hanger-rod extending transversely across the compartment 12 at its upper end and seated in the slots 13 and socketblocks 14. At the ends of the hanger-rod are transverse heads 17, extending at right angles to the hanger rod and seated in the socket-brackets 15 to hold the hanger-rod from rotation.

18 represents agitator-carrying arms that extend downwardly from the hanger-rod 1G.

19 represents agitators fixed to the lower ends of said rods 18 to be rigidly upheld thereby. The agitators 19 are in the form of bars or plates, preferably dished or convex in cross-section, so that their edges will project downward.

20 designates a cradle loosely mounted on the hanger-rod 16 for oscillation thereon and in which the agitators 19 are located to stir the popcorn which is popped insaid cradle. The top of the cradle 20 is closed by a screendoor 21, connected to the cradle at one side by hinges 22 and secured when closed by a latch 23, located at the far side of the cradle from that occupied by the hinges.

24 is an arm extending from one side of the cradle 20 to operate in a slot 25, contained by the casing side wall 1 and adapted to be operated to oscillate the cradle on its supporting hanger-rod. This arm 24 may be connected to any suitable driving mechanism for its actuation. I have shown it as connected to a reciprocating rod 26, that leads to a crank-wheel 27 of aspring-motor 28. As the arm 24 is rocked vertically by the driving mechanism connected thereto it moves alternately up anddown in the slot and oscillates the cradle 20 to cause the agitators 19 to constantly stir the corn being popped in the cradle.

Heat for popping the corn may be applied to the cradle by any suitable means. I have shown for this purpose a gasolene-burner 29, which is located 'in the compartment 12 beneath the cradle and to which oil-supply is delivered from a tank 30. g

31 is a slide-door that closes a hand-hole in the casing-wall 1, through which access is obtained to the burner 29.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a popcorn-popper, the combinationof a casing, a cradle oscillatively mounted in said casing, and agitators rigidly supported in said cradle, substantially as set forth.

2. In a popcorn-popper, the combination of a casing, a hanger-rod non-rotatably mounted in said casing, a cradle oscillatively mounted on said hanger-rod, and agitators rigidly supported in said cradle by said hanger-rod, substantially as set forth.

3. In a popcorn-popper, the combination of a casing, a hanger-rod non-rotatably mounted in said casing, a cradle oscillatively mounted on said hanger-rod, agitator-carrying arms extending downwardly from said hanger-rod within said cradle, and agitators supported by said carrying-arms, substantially as set forth.

4. In a popcorn-popper, the combination of a casing, a hanger-rod non-rotatably mounted in said casing, a cradle oscillatively mounted on said hanger-rod, agitator-carrying arms extending downwardly from said hanger-rod within said cradle, and agitators supported by said carrying-arms, said agitators being convex in cross-section and having their edges projected toward the opposing face of said cradle, substantially as set forth.

5. In a popcorn-popper, the combination of a casing provided with slots in two of its walls, socket-brackets located adjacent to said slots, a hanger-rod seated in said slots,transverselypositioned heads at the ends of said hanger- 7 

